Intel continuing to push its Atom processors into tablets and smartphones while lowering it’s current Ivy Bridge architecture to still lower power (7 watts) even before its next generation (Haswell) becomes available in the next few months.

Intel says there are currently seven smartphones in the global market using its current Atom platform, codenamed Medfield. Based around Intel’s Atom Z2460, they have been relatively well-reviewed, and competitive with ARM smartphones in both performance and battery life. An Intel-optimized version of Android and a compatibility layer for ARM-native apps keep these phones familiar for users even though they’re running Atom chips.

The new Atom Z2420 (codenamed Lexington) is a 1.2GHz smartphone SoC based on the same Saltwell architecture as its bigger brother, but aimed at “emerging markets.” It features 30FPS 1080p video playback and quick photo capture as well as HSPA+ connectivity.

Intel’s next-generation Atom for smartphones will use Silvermont CPU architecture and is based on the company’s 22nm manufacturing process.

Intel’s current-generation Clover Trail Atom platform is shipping in about ten Windows 8 tablets, according to the company. Intel-based tablets can run full Windows 8.

Clover Trail’s follow-up is called Bay Trail, a 22nm quad-core chip that promises twice the CPU performance of Clover Trail. Intel had three working Bay Trail-based tablets on the CES stage. Bay Trail-based systems aren’t expected to be available until “holiday 2013.”

Today Intel announced that the current generation Ivy Bridge (core) chips now available would also use less power: with a TDP of just 7 watts. PCs from both Lenovo and Acer using these 7 watt chips should be coming to market this spring and summer in products like Lenovo’s new IdeaPad Yoga 11S ($799), an 11″ Windows 8 tablet.

Technical details about Haswell, the next generation after Ivy Bridge and due this Spring, were thin, but mentions of the architecture were threaded throughout the presentation. Haswell Ultrabooks will be required to have touchscreens, and will also be required to support Intel’s Wireless Display technology. Intel wants to drive touchscreens down into the $599 price point, by the end of the year.

Whether Intel can drive out ARM-based SoCs from tablets and smartphones remains to be seen, notes ArsTechnica.

Intel is partnering with Nuance and others to add voice, gesture, and face recognition, reports The Verge. Intel’s “perceptual computing,” will recognize users and respond to them. A 3D interface, reminiscent of the Kinect, can recognize gestures from all ten fingers. Nuance is providing a voice recognition module that will give Dell computers (and later others) Siri-like voice analysis and response.

Intel also announced live and on-demand television content on Intel-based devices. Intel is collaborating with Comcast so the XFINITY TV experience will work on IP set-top boxes, Ultrabook devices, Intel-based all-in-one PCs, tablets and smartphones. It uses the Intel Puma 6MG-based XG5 multi-screen video gateway.

Intel is collaborating with Comcast so that customers can enjoy the XFINITY TV experience on IP set-top boxes, Ultrabook™ devices, Intel-based all-in-one PCs, tablets and smartphones as well as smart TVs in the home.